The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including chronic lumbar syndrome and muscular atrophy of the lower extremities, are sufficiently severe to preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.
The deciding factor: The veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to perform his previous job as a cement finisher due to back disability and related muscular atrophy of the legs, which significantly impair his ability to bend, stretch, and drive. His fourth grade education and lack of specialized training further limit his employability.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic lumbar syndrome, history of old injury, marked degenerative disease in the lumbar spine and spinal stenosis, muscular atrophy of the lower extremities
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 5, 2001
- Citation
- 0100282
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0100282.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's back disability and left leg radiculopathy are currently rated at 10% each, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims of increased ratings for various service-connected disabilities are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations.,The Veteran's cervical spine disability claim is also remanded as an adequate VA examination was not provided in the previous February 2015 neck conditions examination.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claim for a VA annual clothing allowance in 2015 is granted because his back brace, used due to service-connected chronic lumbar syndrome, causes wear and tear on his clothing.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's initial and increased ratings for tinnitus and chronic lumbar syndrome, status post lumbar discectomy were granted. The rating for the back disability was increased to 20 percent.
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